Le Chevalier

Newsletter of the South Australia Priory Order of St John Of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller

Australasia

April 2013

Caravaggio’sGrand Master Alof de Wignacourt

Malta -1608

Editor’s Comments

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As your editor I would like to thank those members of the Order who have found the religious iconography included in each edition a graphic expression of their faith. As a result we have decided to feature the work of one of the world’s greatest ever religious painters, who coincidentally was also admitted to our Order. Cara-vaggio was an inspired Italian painter whose greatest works were painted between 1600 and 1610. His subjects were usually ordinary people - peasants, tradesmen, the destitute, and the fallen. In fact Caravaggio himself succumbed to a life of vice and turmoil which led him to murder. He fled Rome and eventually sought refuge on Malta where the Knights took him in and nurtured him. The Grand Master was so impressed with his work that he was admitted to the Order. The painting on the front cover depicts Alof daWignacourt, the Grand Master of the day.

Stories that last a lifetime

An extract from Mary Potter Matters

When a person is admitted into palliative or end of life care, the inability to fulfil important roles can lead to a loss of identity and meaning. The Biography Pro-gram at the Mary Potter Hospice brings a welcome affirmation of the value of each person’s life. This ser-vice provides an opportunity for patients to reflect on special events, to share stories previously untold, to pass on important information, along with offering a lasting memento for their loved ones. Each person is assigned a trained volunteer who will meet with them for one hour each week to record their special story. This story remains in the patients own words and is not edited by the volunteer. Many family members who have received a Biography have commented that they can almost hear their loved one speak to them as they read each word, providing a sense of great comfort. Our sincere thanks are extended to major sponsor, HPS Pharmacies, and the wonderful volunteers who have made the Biography programme available to patients in the hospice and those receiving care in their own homes. If you would like to support this wonderful pro-gramme, please contact us through our website mary-potter.org.au or phone the Foundation on 08 82390119

A Glimpse of Francis I

There has been so much excitement in recent weeks over the election of the new Pope. He is the first in 1000 years from outside Europe; the first from South America; the first from the Jesuit Order. Here is a church leader who has spoken out against injustices in his own country; a humble and simple man who has, Christ-like, washed and kissed feet of AIDS sufferers; a loving and caring pastor of his flock. He has been well received and Christians everywhere pray that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit and be given the strength and stamina to fulfil his mission.What can we expect of him? He has already shown his own style: exposing his self-effacing sense of humour; breaking with tradition by picking a new name for himself; and eschewing the pomp of office. Undoubtedly he will work to revitalise the Church, pursue reports of corruption and maladministration in the Vatican bureaucracy, and repair the great shame of sexual abuse. What else? There are those who hope he will make fundamental changes in Church doctrine, going with the tide of moral relativism that has so eroded the Western world, but they will be disappointed. Popes cannot teach falsehood.Will he unify Christendom– all who share one baptism and belief in the risen Christ? Hopefully. Will he speak out against global abuses of power? Probably. Will he reach out to the poor and disadvantaged? Certainly.We don’t know what paths he will take: this Pope is different. Prepare to be surprised! Chevalier Professor Henry de Assumpcao

Officers of the Priory PriorChev.Professor Dr. John Jackson KJSJVice PriorChev. Brig. Max Lemon AM KJSJVIce PriorChev. The Hon David Wotton AMKJSJVice ChancellorChev. Ian Webber AO CGSJPrelateChev. Venerable ArchdeaconJohn Collas OAM GCHSJChamberlainChev.David Paul KGSJSecretaryChev. David Wilckens KSJTreasurerChev. Michael Evans KSJHospitallerChev. Dr. Harold Lane OAM KSJFunctions CoordinatorChev. Professor Henry D’AssumpcaoAO KJSJNewsletter EditorChev. Dr. Jeffery Nicholas KGSJTel 84492040Mobile 0412500717Email: sejhn@ozemail.com.au

Senior Officers in the Order

Grand Prior EmeritusHE Bailiff Victor Techritz AM GCSJPrior EmeritusHE Bailiff The Hon. Roger Goldsworthy AO, GCSJ

The year 2012 finished for the SA Priory with a wonderful Christmas Banquet in early December, celebrated at the Intercontinental Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide. It was voted our best Christmas Banquet yet, beginning with music by a string quartet, and with Dr Robert Black as M/C. It was well attended and our Grand Prior Royce Pepin and his wife Joyce came from Melbourne for the occasion. We are greatly indebted to our member Chev James Allen, Manager of the Intercontinental Hotel, for smoothing the way and making it a truly joyous occasion. During the evening our usual donation to the Mary Potter Foundation was presented to Cathy Murphy, CEO of the Foundation. We then passed into the summer recess, having sent a donation of $1000.00 towards those New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy, through the Order St John, Knights Hospitallers in Malta. Little did we know then that more local disasters were imminent for Australia truly is, as Dorothea Mackellar describes it, “a land of drought and flooding rains.”

The SA Order of St John promptly donated $1000.00 towards the Tasmanian bushfires which virtually wiped out the town of Dunalley and nearby residences following a period of drought. Your Prior’s boyhood holiday house, slipway, boatshed and jetty were wiped out in this fire, as was the holiday house of Bob Thorpe, a member of the Tasmanian Commandery. And then in February Bundaberg was hit by record floods, many houses simply disappeared ! Again the SA Priory donated $1000.00. Both this and the Tasmanian donation were made through the Salvation Army.On a happier note, many of us attended a service at St Peters Cathedral on Sunday 24 February where our Prelate Archdeacon John Collas in recognition of exactly 50 years since he was Ordained as a priest, was the Celebrant. Our Grand Prior Royce Pepin , Victorian Prior Peter Wiltshire , Ross Synot , Jan Synot and Deputy Grand Prior John Robb, all from Victoria, swelled the ranks at St Peters Cathedral. The church was” packed”.Finally, a contingent of four voting Members (two Priors, the Grand Prior and a Deputy Grand Prior) and 18 observers ( Order of St John Hospitaller Members and partners) head off shortly for the Sovereign Council Meeting in Malta (5-6 April). On my return I will report to the 15 April Meeting on the proceedings of the Council.

John Jackson, KJSJ Prior of South Australia 14-03-2013

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Acknowledgement & Thanks! This newsletter has been printed by Lane Print at no cost to the Priory.We sincerely thank Cheva-lier Peter Lane for his generosity.

Report by the Prior - South Australia Priory

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The Grand Priory now meets alternately in Melbourne and Adelaide

NMAF Club Monday 25th February 2013

There is an open invita­tion to all members of the Order to join the San Francisco Command­ery for their forthcoming Investiture in May. By the looks of the special fund raising event illustrated here, those who can ride a horse would be espe­cially welcome. The St John eight pointed Maltese cross on their Polo shirts is particularly impressive.

Innovative Fund Raising by the Priory of the Pacific - San Francisco

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An extraordinary young man who was christened Michelan­gelo Merisi in 1571 and who lived in the town of Caravag­gio set out for Milan and Rome to make his name in Italy as a painter. He retained the name Caravaggio from his village and dropped his family name. In Rome he became acknowledged as one of the greatest painters of the late Renaissance and ever since his works have been widely renowned and revered for their realism. His portrayal of ordi­nary local people is stunning and his masterpieces depict scenes in the life of Christ with an intensity and realism that makes the view­er feel that he or she is present. Caravaggio’s technical skills as a painter are unrivalled, especially his use of contrasting light.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the turbulent times in the Ital­ian City States, Caravaggio had a much less than divine side to his character. His was a violent and uneasy personality given to brawling, drunkenness and the world of the street. He was

always inviting trouble. It seems that after the intensity and loneli­ness of creating a great painting he had to go out and let off steam in the company of the wildest and sometimes most reprehen­sible vagrants he could find. Life was a struggle and as might be expected he found himself in prison on several occasions. However, his power with the brush was so masterful that help from his wealthy patrons and a pardon from the Pope saw him released from prison with the prospect of further commissions. Unfortunately, he soon after became embroiled in a violent clash with Ranuccio Tomassoni from Terni (Umbria) who died. Fearing he would be incarcer­ated or hung for murder he fled to another jurisdiction in Naples where the Colonna family pro­vided refuge. He quickly became the most famous painter in that city and a stream of important church commmissions followed.

Beset by uncertainty Caravag­gio shortly afterwards sailed for Malta, some say in the hope that

patronage from the Knights of Malta might buy him an of­ficial Papal pardon for the mur­der. The Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt gave him refuge, invested him into the Order and anointed him as the official painter for the Knights Hospi­taller. Important works from his Malta period include a very large Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (pictured), the only paint­ing to which he put his signature, and several portraits of Alof de Wignacourt and other leading knights. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his recidivistic nature, by late August 1608 he was again arrested and imprisoned following an assault on one of our brothers in St John. By December 1608 Caravaggio was expelled from the Order “as a foul and rotten member.” For those wanting to know more about this troubled but brilliant soul please refer to Helen Lang­don’s book ­ ‘Caravaggio- A Life,’ Peter Robb’s ‘Lives,’ or Simon Schama’s DVD ‘The Power of Art.’

Jeff Nicholas & Philip Gray

Caravaggio

Chevalier Professor Ralph Martins AO Bsc(hons) Ph D( University of WA) KSJ

CitWA, MAICDProfessor Martins is an outstanding leader in research into the causes and treatment of Alzheimers disease. He is a graduate from the University of Western Australia, and was a senior research officer in the laboratory of Pro-fessor Colin Masters for seven years, where he undertook pioneering research into the debilitating disease. His re-search which spans 25 years has resulted in over 200 pub-lications and the establishment of a research unit com-prising 26 research staff and 18 post graduate students.

His scientific work has led to some discoveries of world significance. In 2002 he received an excellence in teach-ing award for post graduate research from the University of WA. His community activities are many and included editorial control of The Journal of Alzheimers Disease.

Recently Professor Martins and his team, joined with other Australian Universities to form the Co-operative Research Centre Programme for Men-tal Health. The Australian Government contribut-ed 23 million dollars for this research programme.

In 2009 Professor Martins was awarded Western Aus-tralian, Australian of the Year for 2010 and also received the Melvin Jones Award from Lions International.He is a member for St Vincent de Paul and works tire-lessly for the frail aged and underprivileged in the community. He mentors young high school students. Migrating to Perth from overseas with his par-ents he enrolled in a local high school and quickly embraced all the opportunities Australia offered.

When travelling overseas he is a brilliant ambassador for our country and a strong advocate in places like In-dia and Indonesia where collaborative links are formed to mentor aspiring post graduate students.

Chevalier The Hon David Wotton AM JP KJSJ

David entered the South Australian parliament as the member for Heysen in 1975 and served as the Minister for Environment and Planning between 1979 and 1982. He was appointed Minister for Environment and Natural resources, Family and Community Services and Ageing between 1993 and 1997.He was elected deputy speaker of the House of Assembly and Chairman of Committess from 1997.

Since his retirement in 2002 he has served as Chairman of the River Murray Catchment Board, the Murray Darling National Resource Management Board and Deputy Chairman of the Water Cooperative Research Centre in Canberra.

David is past Chairman of the Anglican Parish of Stirling, the Playford Memorial Trust, Adelaide Hills Tourism, past President of the Australian American Association (SA) and is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He is currently President of the Royal Overseas League(SA)and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003. David is still active in the Parish of Stirling where he is warden of the Church of the Epiphany, Crafers.

He is also Chairman of the Mt Lofty Gardens Support Group and a committee member of the Friends of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

The Award of AM is for service to the Parliament and the Community of South Australia through contributions to environmental management, family and community services and the ageing.

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Australia Day Honours to Members of the Order

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Australia Day Honours to Members of the Order

Chevalier Dr Michael

Llewellyn-Smith AM JP KSJ MA(Cantab) MTCP(Syd)

MA(Adel)Ph D (Adel), Dip LG, Dip Arch(Hons)

Michael was born in Wales and his secondary education was in London where he was School Captain. Af-ter a Rhodes Travel Scholarship to Canada he studied Architecture at Pembroke College, Cambridge Uni-versity. He has worked in the private sector and for the Corporation of the City of London. He won a Com-monwealth Scholarship to Wesley College, Sydney University where he taught Architecture and gained a masters degree in Town Planning. He then joined the City of Sydney as Chief Planning Officer and subse-quently became Deputy City Planner.

In 1974 he was appointed City Plan-ner in Adelaide and Town Clerk and CEO in 1982 serving for 12 years. He then became Managing Direc-tor Llewellyn’s International Urban Management Consultants. He has re-ceived many professional awards both in Australia and overseas and given great community service in a number of fields. Michael was awarded an AM in the Australia Day Honours in 2013 ‘ for significant service to local government through the promotion of city and state relations and planning.’

Chevalier Dr Harold Lane OAM KSJ MMBS D(Obst) RCOG FRACGP FACRRM

Harold was educated in Adelaide at Pulteney Grammar School where he was both Dux and Vice Cap-tain of the school. He graduated from Adelaide University in 1961 and gained a Diploma in Obstetrics in 1972. He was granted Fellow-ships of the Royal Australian Col-lege of General Practice in 1974 , and the Australian College of Ru-ral and Remote Medicine in 2002.

He received a distinguished Service Award from the College of Rural and Remote Medicine in 2012. He prac-ticed medicine at Balaklava for over 44 years where he was active in numer-ous voluntary community activities.Harold has been a Lay Reader in the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, and a Pastoral Assistant in the Dio-cese of Willochra. In 2004 he was the Wakefield Regional Coun-cil Citizen of the Year and South Australian Citizen of the year.In 2012 he was awarded a medal in the Order of Australia for ‘ser-vice to medicine as a rural gen-eral practitioner, and to the com-munity of Balaklava and District.’

Chevalier Professor Kevin Cheney OAM CGSJ MBBS MDFRCPA FRPath

Kevin has given long and distin-guished service to medicine and academia. He was Foundation Direc-tor of Haematology at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital and the Women and Children’s Hospital(1961-1988), Head of Diagnostic Haematology and Senior Consultant Haematologist. His work as a pathologist included Direc-tor of Haematology and Deputy Med-ical Director (1989-1990) at Adelaide Pathology, Sessional Haematologist (1990-1991); Consultant Haematolo-gist (1998-2002) at Gribbles Pathol-ogy. He became an Adjunct Associ-ate Professor in 1993 in recognition of his long standing contribution to the university. He was appointed as Gribbles Clinical Professor in Bio-medical Science (1998-2002) and was also an Associate Clinical Professor at Flinders University (1991-1997)

His awards include - Life Member-ship, of the Adelaide Children’s Hos-pital-1976 and Emeritus Haematolo-gist-1989. Honorary Life Member of Australian Red Cross-1999 for 36 years service and an award from the Aus-tralian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group-2009.

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Christmas BanquetIntercontinental Hotel

2012

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Christmas BanquetIntercontinental Hotel

2012

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On Sunday 24 February Grand Priory members and family joined with more than 800 worshippers at a very special Service held at the Cathedral Church of St Peter, Adelaide, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of our Prelate Chevalier Archdeacon John Collas OAM GCHSJ. Chevalier John was joined at the altar during the service by good friends Archdeacon Michael Pennington and Canon John Warner assisting with the chalice.Chevalier John’s ministry has included: Archdeacon Emeritus, Anglican Church of Australia, since 2007; Archdeacon of Adelaide, 1996­2006; Vicar General of Diocese of Adelaide, 2002­2006; Administrator, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, 2004­2005; Rector, Christ Church, North Adelaide, 1991­2002; Archdeacon, Sturt, 1990­ 1996; Archdeacon, Southern Suburbs, 1988­1990; and Rural Deacon, Southern Suburbs, 1985­1988. Rector of the following parishes: Glen Osmond, 1978­1991; Tea Tree Gully, 1977­1978; Glenunga, 1970­1977; Cathedral Church of St Peter, Adelaide. He served as Moderator, and member of the Executive Committee, South Australia Council of Churches, 2006­2008.Chevalier John is a current Member of the Council of Governors, Walford Anglican School for Girls, since 2003; former Governor, St Peter’s College, 1996­ 2006 and Prelate of the Grand Priory of— Order of St John of Jerusalem Australasia. Along with the others recognised for their service in this edition of Le Chevalier John was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2009 for service to the Anglican Church of Australia through leadership, and to the community. Text courtesy of Barbara Abley, Editor of the Melbourne Herald

Prelate Chevalier Archdeacon John Collas OAM GCHSJ50 years Service of Christian Faith

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The History of Our Charity

The Mary Potter FoundationIn 1877, the Venerable Mary Potter founded the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. She was a woman of great vision with an all-embracing love of God and for others. She was particularly concerned for those who were sick, dying or in need. Mary Potter never wavered in living out this vision, in spite of contin-ued opposition from her family and some church members. With five companions and no money, Mary started her work in Hyson Green, one of the poorer areas of Nottingham. They lived in a disused stocking factory and would go out each day to care for the people in the area who were sick and dying. They relied on the charity and generosity of others to support them in their work. Mary was determined that the best care was offered by the sisters to the people they served and was insistent they were appropriately educated in nursing. The sisters continue to live out this vision in many works and services, working with the many people who support the mission and services of the Little Company of Mary. The Mary Potter Foundation was formed in Adelaide in 1987 to ensure the work of the Mary Potter Hospice would continue. It started with a small committee which raised funds for the hospice. Within 12 months , the committee became an incorporated body with a chairman, board and staff. Last year the foundation celebrated its 25th year. The foundation now raises over $800,000 annually to meet the cost of medical care, equipment, pastoral care, social work, counselling, complimentary therapy and the biography service. They also support other areas of palliative care, particularly for cancer patients spending time at Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide. The foundation does not receive any church or government funding. The foundation needs volunteers largely on an ad hoc basis to help out at events, sell raffle tickets or to provide administrative support in the office. They are unable to offer a regular volunteering opportunity (for example, weekly or monthly). They currently have a small team of volunteers and are always happy to meet new people who want to volunteer as long as they understand it will be irregular at best. Hospice and hospital volunteers are managed by the Calvary volunteer manager. Courtesy of the Adelaide Adverstiser 2012

He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire - Winston Churchill

He had delusions of adequacy - Walter Kerr

He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the Dictionary - Wil-liam Faulkner about Ernest Hemingway

Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it - Moses Hadas

I feel so miserable without you; its almost like having you here. - Stephen Bishop

He is a self-made man and worships his creator. - John Bright

The Last Laugh

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Mon April 15 12noon Regular meeting NMAF Club Mon May 20 12noon Regular meeting(Pasrtners) NMAF Club Fri June 21 Investiture and Banquet The Pavilion - South Terrace Sat June 22 Chapter Meeting. Christ Church Hall Mon July 15 12noon Regular meeting NMAF Club Mon Aug 15 12noon Regular meeting (Partners) NMAF Club Sat Sep 7 Siege of Malta Function - Intercontinental Hotel Mon Sep 16 12noon Regular meeting NMAF Club

Programme 2013

The LangueBanners In 1565 the Grand Marshal was the Leader of the Langue Auvergne.He was not the Commander of the Army as the name suggests, but responsible for supplying both the Army and the Navy with essential armaments, am-munition, horse tackle etc. He was the suprintendant of the arsenal, which of course included the control of gunpowder. His duties overlapped with those of the Admiral. Beneath him in rank was the Grand Groom, who came from the class of Sergeant, and the Constable who was the

Cavalry Commander. Today the Grand Marshal’s duties revolve around heraldry and ceremony. After the Siege of Rhodes in 1522,

the Knights did not have time to remove their remaining gunpow-der from the Crypt of the Church of St John of the Collachium, so the Grand Marshal sealed and hid it so well that the Turks never found it. It remained forgotten for 343 years when in 1865 lightning struck the church detonating the gunpowder. The church disap-peared, as did the nearby Turkish Mosque, one half of the Grand Master’s Palace and several hous-es in the Street of the Knights. Today, all has been restored except the Church of St John.

AUVERGNE

EasterThis counter­reforma­tion painting – with a diagonal cascade of mourners and cadav­er­bearers descend­ing to the limp, dead Christ and the bare stone – is not a mo­ment of transfigura­tion, but of mourn­ing. As the viewer’s eye descends from the gloom there is, too, a descent from the hysteria of Mary of Cleophas through subdued emotion to death as the final emotional silencing.While faces are im­portant in paintings generally, in Caravag­gio it is important always to note where

Saturdaythe arms are point­ing. Skyward in The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Road to Damascus, towards Levi in The Calling of Saint Matthew. Here, the dead God’s fallen arm and immacu­late shroud touch stone; the grieving Mary Magdalene ges­ticulates to Heaven. In some ways, that was the message of Christ: God come to earth, and mankind reconciled with the heavens. As usual, even with his works of highest devotion, Caravaggio never fails to ground himself. Text by Wikepedia

Caravaggio’s Entombment of Christ

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